Eco friendly cladding is the new pulse of Middle East’s Construction market

Professionals in the design and construction industries agree that the cladding of a building is crucial to its overall appearance and its integration into the surrounding urban environment, so the quality of the materials used and the thoughtfulness of the design are the deciding factors in whether or not the building is fit for its intended purpose.

Avinash Kumar, associate partner at Dubai architecture firm Godwin Austen Johnson, says that thermal, acoustic, and fire resistance requirements are vital factors to take into account from concept design through maintenance, and that the more ambitious the project, the greater the need for attention to detail (GAJ).

A building's cladding is just as crucial for its efficiency as it is for its aesthetic value. Presently, photovoltaic (PV) cells with aluminium are the most prevalent type of cladding, however wood, concrete, aluminium, and glass are all commonly used. He notes that this is often made up of an aluminium sheet and insulating boards.

The most efficient cladding has traditionally been made of external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) or external insulation finishing systems (EIFS). An insulation board that can be trimmed and moulded to any specification is used. This completely surrounds the structure, preventing heat loss through the walls.

However, Kumar claims that the sector as a whole is undergoing a significant technological transformation.

Among the novel materials being used for cladding, he lists terracotta, concrete fibre boards, and single-component metal cladding panels.

Single-component metal cladding systems are easier to instal and are fireproof because they don't employ composite materials. As of January 1, 2018, Dubai Civil Defence regulations have changed, prohibiting the use of any composite metal panels with combustible cores, which has caused a shift in the UAE market.

And he goes on to say, "In the past decade, architects in Dubai have been experimenting with different materials, and we have seen a few new types of cladding materials, such as perforated screens, wood plastic composite (WPC) panels, and timber panels, being used in low-rise building forms." Mineral fibre panels are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to conventional metal ones.

Aurecon's Middle East built environment leader Steve Daniels agrees that advancements are being made in all facets of external design. Façade engineering is undergoing a fascinating transformation. It's a common question among designers and developers to wonder what's feasible, and the answer is "nearly anything."

For example, he says, "At Aurecon, we employ virtual reality to provide clients a 3D visual mock-up in the early stages of the design process. This saves architects, suppliers, and owners the time and money of creating a physical mockup so they can compare the many glass, system colour, and size options as well as their respective costs.

Ramboll, an engineering consultancy, claims that despite the widespread nature of cladding advancements, these developments are "only being reflected incrementally on most projects."

Robotic construction, 3D printing, adaptive or responsive systems, alternative materials like composites, and the continued acceptance of modular building are just a few examples of the "exciting advances in construction" the firm cites.

Parametric design, improved simulation models, and intricate geometry are examples of recent design innovations. Nano-coatings, more environmentally friendly materials, recyclable materials, improved insulation, self-healing materials, and so on are all examples of improvements that could be subtle or even unnoticed on the bulk of construction projects.

In addition to water-sensitive materials that shut themselves in the event of rain and enable air to circulate during dry weather, ceramic tiles that help to scrub the air clean of car emissions are currently being developed for transport hubs across the world.

These are only one type of "smart cladding" solution that Kumar predicts will play a larger role in the future of building design and construction.

"In the future, one area that is going to grow is smart façades," he says. "This entails integrating ways to regulate and minimise radiant and convective heat loads outside the structure before they can reach the interior."

Daniels stresses the significance of the building's façade to the overall success of a project. However, he cautions that design and execution knowledge is crucial at all stages of the project.

"A façade is one of the most prevalent causes of construction failure, yet it is also one of the most important factors in determining the value, commercial success, and project risk of a structure. He explains.

A typical 30-story structure, for instance, will have a façade that is around 18,000 square metres in area. There will be around 3000 panels used for this, with each panel consisting of around 300 individual parts made from a variety of materials. With that many moving pieces, it's easy to see how problems can arise if safeguards aren't in place.

Daniels elaborates, "Some of the conditions that a façade needs to accept include wind speeds of up to 100 km/h; temperature changes and related thermal expansion of up to 80°C; as well as rain, humidity, mould, and even seismic activity and lightning.”

White building with energy-saving façade Sustainable Middle Eastern Architecture and Facades

In recent years, green building laws have become increasingly important, and fortunately, major construction businesses in the GCC have begun to show their dedication to both worldwide and local sustainable building principles. Sustainable façades are included in this category.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has made significant progress toward a transition to more sustainable and healthier construction techniques, with facades being the most extensively used of the chosen methods. Due to its usefulness in fending off the scorching desert sun, this architectural element has become ingrained in local customs.

Energy-saving improvements to modern building envelopes include replacing inefficient incandescent lighting with longer-lasting and more environmentally friendly LED bulbs and installing thermal insulation in windows. This switch is an example of a green building concept's energy-saving measure.

“In my opinion, architects and other building design professionals have a responsibility to inform their clients about sustainable design practises. We need to show them how solving this problem can increase their profits in the medium to long term, while also providing the critical benefits of lowering our environmental footprint and aiding the local economy by relieving strain on its infrastructure. As part of our design process, we incorporate two environmental design strategies—passive and active—at the building level to lessen a structure's carbon footprint and energy requirements,” Firas Hnoosh, Managing Director at Nordic Office Architects.

Passive techniques are incorporated into a building's design from the get-go in order to permanently lessen its carbon footprint and energy demands. The term "passive" is used to describe its impact because it is not felt by the recipient. The massing, orientation, façade design, materials, shading devices, and solid to glazed ratios of a structure are only a few passive methods. It's a one-time financial outlay that pays long-term dividends by decreasing the building's cooling and energy needs, improving occupants' thermal comfort, shading the outside, and so on.

Active strategies are technologies that are included into the building's services; they require an additional capital investment and some operational maintenance expenses, but these are more than made up for over the building's medium- to long-term lifespan. Greywater recycling, water flow-reducing taps and fixtures, occupancy sensors for lighting control, and temperature and humidity sensors for HVAC control are all examples. Elevator management systems that optimise usage to save unnecessary trips, and escalator usage based on actual demand, are two examples. In addition, we can now meet a portion of our energy needs using power generated on-site by means of photovoltaic panels and wind turbines erected on the premises.